Okotoks invokes mask bylaw

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Another community in Alberta has an active face covering bylaw to help stop the spread of COVID-19, as Okotoks has invoked its mask bylaw.

On Oct. 26, The Town of Okotoks announced the invoking of its mandatory mask bylaw 31-20, in response to the number of COVID-19 cases there reaching 16.

“The town needs to protect the health and safety of all residents,” said Mayor Bill Robertson in a statement published on the town’s website. “Mandatory masks are an additional safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve more quickly.”

The bylaw makes masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces, including eating and drinking establishments, public vehicles, entertainment establishments, retail stores, places of worship, gyms, studios, common areas of hotels, medical clinics and offices where the public has access.

Exempted from the rule are children under the age of two, “resistant” children five years and under, people with medical conditions or disabilities, and employees not working within public spaces or if they are separated by a physical barrier. No proof of exemption is required.

The bylaw will remain in effect until active cases are under 15 for 30 consecutive days.

Unlike Okotoks and some other Alberta communities such as Cochrane, the Town of Strathmore’s mask bylaw, which has only passed first reading, is not dependent on the number of local cases to come into effect. Instead, Trent West, the town’s director of emergency management, will make the call as to when to bring Strathmore’s mask bylaw back to council to pass into law, based on the number and nature of cases.